St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-17
ADVOCATES HsGH LICENSE.
DIR. Dana Thinks it is preparatory
10 More Radical LegisIaIian.

DR.. Dana, pastor of Plymouth church,
preached last evening Oh the question of
high license. and earnestly advocated the
passage of the bill now before the legis-
lature embodying that idea. His position
on the subject is as follows:
The ever absorbing question of the drink
evil and how TO abridge its evil effects is now
up again for legislative treatment. 1t is at q
stage and in place where the scrutiny of
the general public IS necessary and where, if
nothing is now done, nothing can be done for
another two years The eyes of all citizens
interested in good moraIs,In the advancement
of practical temperance, should now be turned
towards the capitol. Therein we have right
to look for some well matured and prompt
legislative measure in reference to this grow
ing evil of the age. We have now in session
u legislature chosen on the issue Of high
license. Ii was distinctive question in the
recent campaign, and the result in
dicates a decidedly preponderant sentiment
in this commonwealth in favor of adopting
some restrictive law which would cur tail at
least the evils still flowing from the liquor
traffic. These representatives were sent up
to this legislature committed to the passage
in good faith of a stringent high license law
to be made uniform in its application to all
parts of the state. That this is all that
business, which has become cOnfeSSedly such
q disturbing factor in the social and political
no one afirms, but it was all that it was
thought eXpedient to seek in this election
and the verdict at the polls was
that this much should be secured
through our lawmakers this winter.
More than this. in the platform of prin-
cipes adopted ty the party that carried the
recent election, was a distinct Endorsement
of high license and Il public and solemn COM
initial to that method of restricting the power
and prevalence of the saloon. Ii there was
any significance to the professions of the
party successful in the last political canvass,
then it goes with the saying, that as such it
stands pledged to the passage OF a distinctively
high license law in the interests of practical
temperance. And yet let no one suppose
that high license law can be secured at the
hands of this legislature
WITHOUT A HARD FIGHT.
The opposition TO all restrictive laws bear
ing upon the business of the saloons is pro
nounced, powerful and purseful. There is
no Disgusting the fact that the forces op-
posed to every kind of temperance measures
are better organized to-day than they were
Two Years ago. T8en they p revailed. TO the
shame and disgrace of wouIL- be honest and
honorable legislators. Now, with alert and
subtle representatives of an association that
has openly thrown down the gauntlet before
all friends Of temperance, we may expect an
opposition difficult to circumveut.
That the measure in question viii Go all
that friends of temperance would like
TO see effected is not claimed 1t
will, however. do much. and it is proposed
in tie interests of practical temperance. 1t
is restrictive in its features and curtails an
evil we are not able ut present to eXtirpate.
1t is in reality moderate prohibition and has
yielded satisfactory results on the whole
where adopted. 1t brings the saloons and
their business under closer legal surveillance,
enables authorities 10 make them respect, as
now they do not, those conditions which have
ali along been prescribed. 1t will diminish
their number. It will put an end to the sale
Of liquor to minors and irresponsible persons,
and Will forever cripple the political power
of the saloon. 1t W. prepare the way for
the more radical temperance legislation de-
manded hy those unSatisfied with anything
short OF total prohibition. | am NOT antagO-
niZing other temperance workers and meth
DDS by the advocacy of this means OF dealing
with the liquor business. That is not the issue
now before us. 1t is worse than useless to
wrangle with any who, under the names of
temperance reformers, oppose this legiSla-
ton, ana deliberately prefer unhindered, un-
restrained rum traffic because they hayeessthe
nostrum of their OWE Gevising. [ do. not
propose 10 have my fealty to Il great cause
impugned because 1 am an advocate OF what
does practically contribute TO the curtail-
ment aud legal control of a menacing traffic
| leave to others tie liberty to urge their
favorite measures, out in an hour like this to
jeOpardize the passage of a high-license bill
is deliberately to give freer scope and more
power to business that in great
cities needs first OF all TO be cor
rallied and subjected to stringent limitations.
While there is danger from the opposition of
the associated liquor men there is also danger
from divided counSeis among those profess
edlY friendly to the restrictive legislation pro-
posed. The taxpayers of the state, whose
heaviest burdens these multiplying places for
the vending of liquor occasions, should array
themselves openly in its favor. The wage
class, spending now in the saloons of this
country 500, 000, 900 annually ought in justice
to themselves and in mercy to their families
to assist IN securing the law that limits the
number of these places where the poor man
is made poorer and home changed to au
abode of suffering and strife. The criminals
who fill our jails and penitentiary and who
know their road to both lay through the sa-
looms, will hail with gadness the extinguish-
ment of any. The manly, emphatic words o.
the just elected governor in his message
show what the convictions Of the chief eXecu-
tive of the state are in a moment when frank
and fearless opinions count for much. In
the interest of virtue of civic thrift, of re-
ligion, deem the enactment of such a prac-
teal temperance measure as high license
law Of momentous Importance. Only bad
faith, political trimming and public indiFer-
ence can lose us this con ribution to the
wealth of the people and the good name and
morals of our commonwealth.
JOSEPHlNE,S HARD LICK.